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- Jacobsson, Leif, 1945-, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of α-tocopherol and astaxanthin on LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits
- 2004
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Ingår i: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9150 .- 1879-1484. ; 173:2, s. 231-237
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of α-tocopherol and astaxanthin on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation lag time and atherosclerotic lesion formation in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Thirty-one, 3-month-old WHHL rabbits were divided into three experimental groups. One group (n=10) was fed standard rabbit feed alone and served as a control, a second group (n=11) was supplied with the same feed containing 500mg α-tocopherol/kg and a third group (n=10) was given a feed containing 100mg astaxanthin/kg. Plasma lipids, lipoproteins and LDL oxidation lag time were followed for 24 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were killed and the thoracic aorta was used for evaluation of the degree of atherosclerosis. Colour photographs of the intimal surface of the vessel were taken for determination of the atherosclerotic area. Cross-sections of the thoracic aorta were used for histological examination and for determination of intimal thickening. Specimens of the vessel were used for determination of the tissue cholesterol content. Plasma cholesterol remained at a high level during the time of the experiment and there were no differences between the experimental groups. After 24 weeks, the LDL oxidation lag time was 53.7±1.7min, 109±4min (P<0.001) and 56.4±3.4min (P=0.47) in the control, α-tocopherol and astaxanthin groups, respectively. In the thoracic aorta, the atherosclerotic area was 80.7±5.1%, 67.1±6.7% (P=0.13) and 75.2±5.7% (P=0.49) in the control, α-tocopherol and astaxanthin groups, respectively. The intimal thickening was 45.6±3.2%, 44.0±4.1% (P=0.89) and 40.0±4.5% (P=0.33) in the control, α-tocopherol and astaxanthin groups, respectively. Finally, the cholesterol content was 107±9μmol/g, 95.7±11. 5μmol/g (P=0.31) and 101±5μmol/g (P=0.33) in the control, α-tocopherol and astaxanthin groups, respectively. It can be concluded that α-tocopherol but not astaxanthin prolonged the LDL oxidation lag time. The two antioxidative substances did not prevent atherogenesis in WHHL rabbits in this setting.
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- Kiotseridis, Hampus, et al.
(författare)
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Grass pollen allergy in children and adolescents-symptoms, health related quality of life and the value of pollen prognosis
- 2013
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Ingår i: Clinical and Transnational Allergy. - 2045-7022. ; 3:19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Introduction An association between pollen count (Poaceae) and symptoms is well known, but to a lesser degree the importance of priming and lag effects. Also, threshold levels for changes in symptom severity need to be validated. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between pollen counts, symptoms and health related quality of life (HRQL), and to validate thresholds levels, useful in public pollen warnings. Material and methods Children aged 7–18 with grass pollen allergy filled out a symptom diary during the pollen season for nose, eyes and lung symptoms, as well as a HRQL questionnaire every week. Pollen counts were monitored using a volumetric spore trap. Results 89 (91%) of the included 98 children completed the study. There was a clear association between pollen count, symptom severity and HRQL during the whole pollen season, but no difference in this respect between early and late pollen season. There was a lag effect of 1–3 days after pollen exposure except for lung symptoms. We found only two threshold levels, at 30 and 80 pollen grains/m3 for the total symptom score, not three as is used today. The nose and eyes reacted to low doses, but for the lung symptoms, symptom strength did hardly change until 50 pollen grains/m3. Conclusion Grass pollen has an effect on symptoms and HRQL, lasting up to 5 days after exposure. Symptoms from the lungs appear to have higher threshold levels than the eyes and the nose. Overall symptom severity does not appear to change during the course of season. Threshold levels need to be revised. We suggest a traffic light model for public pollen warnings directed to children, where green signifies “no problem”, yellow signifies “can be problems, especially if you are highly sensitive” and red signifies “alert – take action”.
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- Li, Wei, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Alpha-tocopherol and astaxanthin decrease macrophage infiltration, apoptosis and vulnerability in atheroma of hyperlipidaemic rabbits
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-2828 .- 1095-8584. ; 37:5, s. 969-978
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The composition of atherosclerotic plaques, not just macroscopical lesion size, has been implicated in their susceptibility to rupture and the risk of thrombus formation. By focusing on the quality of lipids, macrophages, apoptosis, collagen, metalloproteinase expression and plaque integrity, we evaluated the possible anti-atherosclerotic effect of the antioxidants α-tocopherol and astaxanthin in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. Thirty-one WHHL rabbits were divided into three groups and were fed a standard diet, as controls (N =10), or a standard diet with the addition of 500 mg α-tocopherol per kg feed (N =11) or 100 mg astaxanthin per kg feed (N =10) for 24 weeks. We found that both antioxidants, particularly astaxanthin, significantly decreased macrophage infiltration in the plaques although they did not affect lipid accumulation. All lesions in the astaxanthin-treated rabbits were classified as early plaques according to the distribution of collagen and smooth muscle cells. Both antioxidants also improved plaque stability and significantly diminished apoptosis, which mainly occurred in macrophages, matrix metalloproteinase three expressions and plaque ruptures. Although neither antioxidant altered the positive correlations between the lesion size and lipid accumulation, the lesion size and apoptosis were only positively correlated in the control group. Astaxanthin and α-tocopherol may improve plaque stability by decreasing macrophage infiltration and apoptosis in this atherosclerotic setting. Apoptosis reduction by α-tocopherol and astaxanthin may be a new anti-atherogenic property of these antioxidants. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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